While talking with some friends last weekend the question came up "what are you giving up for Lent?" Each of us in turn shared what she or he was going to "sacrifice" during the Lenten season. I then asked the question "what is everyone taking up for Lent?" Silence. Just as I expected.
Many of us think only of what we can give up for Lent. Giving something up is a good and useful thing. But what if we decided this Lent to do something extra to help nurture our spiritual life? Pray the rosary, go to daily mass, pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All of these are worthy endeavors. Here are some other worthwhile disciplines to take up for for Lent:
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Give up complaining—— take up gratitude.
Give up pessimism——take up optimism.
Give up harsh judgments——take up kindness, especially toward your 'enemies'.
Give up worry——take up a deeper trust in God.
Give up discouragement——take up hope.
Give up bitterness——take up the process of forgiveness.
Give up hatred——take up returning good for evil.
Give up negativism——take up a more positive attitude.
Give up anger——take up patience, tolerance, love.
Give up pettiness——take up being mature.
Give up gloom——take up seeing the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy——pray for trust.
Give up gossiping——take up control of your tongue.
Give up sin——take up the universal call to holiness.
Give up yourself------take up the life Christ has waiting for you.
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Be assured of my prayers for you this Lenten season, dear reader, as part of my cyber family. Please pray for me, a sinner. ~Friar Rex
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